UFC 126: Breakdown and Picks

UFC fans have started to expect one of the best cards of the year annually on Super Bowl weekend and the organization is not letting them down in 2011. Three headline-worthy bouts are scheduled for the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday as well as a loaded undercard. Check out a breakdown and predictions for all 11 fights from the Las Vegas Sun's Case Keefer, KSNV's Kevin West and ESPN Radio’s Steve Cofield below. Keefer, West and Cofield are all 5-5-1 in UFC picks through one event this year.

Punch list: No one can rationally argue against Silva being one of the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He’s crushed everyone who's stood in his path since 2004. Silva will try to break his own record by going for an eighth straight title defense.

Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV

Cofield: Silva

West: Silva

Last fight: First round win by knockout against Rich Franklin at UFC 103.

Punch list: Like Silva, Belfort is considered one of the best Brazilian mixed martial artists ever. He’s a renowned striker who has won three straight and four of his last five by knockout. This is only the former UFC light heavyweight champion’s second bout in the 185-pound class.

Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun

Keefer: Silva

Forrest Griffin

Age: 31

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 205

MMA record 17-6

Betting line: +160

Rich Franklin

Age: 36

Height: 6'1''

Weight: 205

MMA record 28-5

Betting line: -200

Light Heavyweight Bout

Co-Main Event

Last fight: Split decision win over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106.

Punch list: The fan-favorite Griffin has been a part of some of the most memorable fights in UFC history. The question coming into this one is whether he will be rusty after 13 months off.

Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV

Cofield: Franklin

West: Franklin

Last fight: First round win over Chuck Liddell by knockout at UFC 115.

Punch list: Franklin, of course, was a high school math teacher before he turned in his chalk and eraser for a shot in mixed martial arts. He never looked back and was the last man to hold the middleweight championship before Silva

Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun

Keefer: Franklin

Jake Ellenberger

Age: 25

Height: 6’0’’

Weight: 170

MMA record 23-5

Betting line: -320

Carlos Eduardo Rocha

Age: 29

Height: 5’10’’

Weight: 170

MMA record 9-0

Betting line: +250

Welterweight Bout

Last fight:Third round win by TKO over John Howard at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.

Punch list: Ellenberger has one defeat during his three-fight UFC career, but it’s a disputed one. Many feel he won a fight that resulted in a split decision loss against welterweight contender Carlos Condit in his debut.

Staff picks:ESPN Radio and KSNV

Cofield: Ellenberger

West: Ellenberger

Last fight: First round win by submission over Kris McCray at UFC 122.

Punch list: Rocha is newer to the mixed martial arts world, as his first fight was in 2008. But he’s a long-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner who has a black belt. He’s submitted eight of nine opponents in MMA.

Staff picks:Las Vegas Sun

Keefer: Rocha

Jon Jones

Age: 23

Height: 6’4''

Weight: 205

MMA record 11-1

Betting line: -400

Ryan Bader

Age: 27

Height: 6'2''

Weight: 205

MMA record 13-0

Betting line: +300

Light Heavyweight Bout

Last fight: First round win by TKO over Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.

Punch list: Everyone around mixed martial arts is anointing Jones as the next superstar. He’s practically undefeated as his only loss came by disqualification for illegal elbows after the fight could have already been called.

Punch list: Bader won season eight of “The Ultimate Fighter” and has quickly worked his way up the 205-pound weight division. His last two victories, against Nogueira and Keith Jardine, were particularly impressive and put him close to a title shot.

Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun

Keefer: Jones

Miguel Angel Torres

Age: 30

Height: 5'9’’

Weight: 135

MMA record 37-3

Betting line: -400

Antonio Banuelos

Age: 31

Height: 5’3’’

Weight: 135

MMA record 19-6

Betting line: +300

Bantamweight Bout

Last fight: Second round win by submission over Charlie Valencia at WEC 51.

Punch list: Torres’ record can be misleading because two of the three losses have come in the last year and a half. But he’s a former WEC champion who defended his belt three times.

Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV

Cofield: Torres

West: Torres

Last fight: Unanimous decision victory against Chad George at WEC 51.

Punch list: It’s a great opportunity for Banuelos to catapult his stock against one of the division’s most recognized names. The ground specialist had a up-and-down career in the WEC.

Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun

Keefer: Torres

Donald Cerrone

Age: 27

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 155

MMA record 13-3

Betting line: -300

Paul Kelly

Age: 26

Height: 5’9’’

Weight: 155

MMA record 12-3

Betting line: +220

Lightweight Bout

Last fight: Second round win by submission over Chris Horodecki at WEC 53.

Punch list: “The Cowboy” from Colorado came painstakingly close to the WEC lightweight belt multiple times, losing in three title fights. He starts his UFC journey against a veteran of the organization.

Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV

Cofield: Kelly

West: Cerrone

Last fight: Second round by TKO over T.J. O’Brien at UFC 123.

Punch list: Quick turnaround for the England native, who has gone 2-2 in his last four bouts. Kelly is his most dangerous on the mat where he can wail away with his superior ground and pound.